NICOTROL® Inhaler (nicotine inhalation
system) consists of a mouthpiece and a plastic
cartridge delivering 4 mg
of nicotine from a
porous plug containing
10 mg nicotine. The cartridge
is inserted into the mouthpiece prior to use. Nicotine is a tertiary
amine composed of a pyridine
and a pyrrolidine ring. It is a colorless to pale yellow, freely
water-soluble, strongly alkaline,
oily, volatile, hygroscopic
liquid obtained from
the tobacco plant. Nicotine has a characteristic
pungent odor
and turns brown on exposure
to air or light. Of its
two stereoisomers, S(-) nicotine
is the more active. It is the prevalent form
in tobacco, and is the form
in the NICOTROL Inhaler. The free alkaloid
is absorbed rapidly through skin, mucous membranes, and the respiratory
tract.

Chemical Name: S-3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl) pyridine

Molecular Formula: C10H14N2

Molecular Weight: 162.23

Ionization Constants: pKa1 = 7.84, pKa2 = 3.04 at 15° C

Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient: 15:1 at pH
7

Nicotine is the active ingredient; inactive components of the product
are menthol and a porous
plug which are pharmacologically
inactive. Nicotine is released when air
is inhaled through the Inhaler.